ascribe

ascribe (something) to (something)

To attribute something to a person or source. Unless you want the teacher to think you're plagiarizing, be sure to ascribe all of your quotes to the proper sources. Can you believe this ludicrous statement that's been ascribed to the CEO? Can you believe one student ascribed the famous "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" quote to President Obama? Boy, teaching gives me a real headache some days.

See also: ascribe, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

ascribe something to someone or something

to attribute something to someone or something; to assert that something has been caused by someone or something. Please do not ascribe that attitude to my friends. We ascribed the offensive action to Jill and only Jill.

See also: ascribe, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.